Special Investigation Team (SIT)

Special investigation team (SIT) is an investigative team established by the government (India) to analyze a specific legal issue. SIT generally assists lower courts and is set up when a judicial or court case warrants proper and in-depth investigation, which the current investigative agencies aren’t equipped to carry out. An SIT is not bigger than the Supreme Court, and its findings are also not binding. An SIT’s job is to assess an ongoing court case and present its report(s). Whether the findings get acknowledged or quashed is the court’s decision.

Generally, the Supreme Court or the government chooses the members, with no specific rules or stipulations governing their picks. The team that usually comprises ex-police officers, ex-military personnel and bureaucrats isn’t formed every other day. Only a handful of national-level, high-profile cases (scams, corruption, riots, etc.) get the SIT treatment.